Can Dogs Get Parvo at Any Age?
- January 30, 2023
- Dogs
- Roger Miller
We all can agree that parvovirus is, for dog owners, one of the most feared diseases out there.
Parvo is hard to fight, there is no exact cure for the disease, and it all comes down to preventing it as much as possible.
But can dogs get parvo at any age? Is your elderly dog safe from this fatal disease? Your Pet, Your Love will quickly answer this question in simple terms so you can learn more about this topic.
Can My Dog Get Parvo at Any Age?
Dogs of any age, breed, and size can get parvo if they are not vaccinated. Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious disease that affects dogs of all kinds, provided they are still not vaccinated.
Research shows that puppies and young dogs are most likely to get parvo, but it also shows that it doesn’t matter how old is your dog – if they don’t have the protection provided by the highly effective parvo vaccine, they can get sick without further notice.
Vaccination is recommended by professionals when dogs are between 6 and 16 weeks of age, and there’s a deadly rate of 90% of dogs that have not been treated or vaccinated, which is really impressive (in a bad way).
There are many diseases that affect dogs (Can a Tick Kill a Dog?), and canine parvovirus is one of those diseases that you must watch out for.
What Age Is a Dog Most Likely to Get Parvo?
Dogs are most likely to get parvo when they are between 6 and 20 weeks old. The College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University shows that young dogs are way more likely to get parvo than old dogs.
If you have a puppy, it is not recommended to walk them outside until they are fully vaccinated against this deadly disease.
In the same way, watch out for other deadly factors that furry dogs can face. Go here to learn more: Can a Hairball Kill a Dog?
At What Age Are Dogs Less Likely to Get Parvo?
Vaccinated dogs that are over one year old are less likely to get parvo than young and unvaccinated dogs.
It is possible for six-month-old dogs to be fully protected against parvo if they have received all the vaccines before this time range.
Therefore, although parvo affects puppies more often than older dogs, it all comes down to whether the dog is vaccinated or not.
Can Senior Dogs Get Parvo?
It has been established that dogs of all ages can get parvo, but can an elderly dog get parvo? The answer is yes, it can.
Nonetheless, parvo is often mild in older or senior dogs because they have developed a stronger immune system.
This doesn’t mean that they are immune, though – it is important to follow recommended vaccination plans for the dogs to be as safe as possible in case parvo strikes.
So, even if you have a senior dog, it is worth noting that parvo can also strike, although statistics show that this is not that common.
How Old Can a Dog Be to Catch Parvo?
The National Library of Medicine shows that dogs of any age can catch parvo. The worst thing about this disease is the fact that it is highly deadly and contagious, and it doesn’t matter whether your dog is old or young – it can still catch it.
Once again, puppies are more prone to get parvo than other dogs, but when it comes to catching the disease, there is no determined age at which you can tell that dogs are entirely safe from it.
So, Can Dogs of Any Age Get Parvo?
Yes. That’s our conclusion – dogs of any age can get parvo if they are unvaccinated or if they haven’t survived the disease before.
Some puppies can acquire parvovirus antibodies from their mother’s milk, but overall, all dogs will require to have the vaccine so you can be sure that parvo will not be deadly to them.
If you believed that parvo was a thing that only affected young dogs, then think twice – age doesn’t matter as long as protection is not correctly placed by professionals.
How Long Can a Dog Have Parvo Without Showing Symptoms?
Parvo is a tricky disease because the incubation phase takes from five to eight days. This means that your dog can be in contact with the virus that causes parvo, and you won’t know it after more than a week, when you will need to act fast.
The most common parvo symptoms are the following:
- Vomiting and fever.
- Depression and lethargy.
- Loss of appetite.
- Bloody diarrhea.
- Dehydration.
As you can see, the symptoms are pretty rough. This means that as soon as you notice something bad in your dog, you need to take it to the vet as soon as you have a chance.
Parvo has a fairly great survival rate in dogs that receive treatment on time, so if your vet receives your dog with parvo at an early stage, then there is something that can be done.
Pet Summary: How Old Can a Dog Be to Catch Parvo?
There is no age, breed, or size to catch parvo – dogs of any age and type can catch parvo at all times.
There is no “magic cure” for this disease, but there is a very powerful tool that you can make use of: parvovirus vaccines.
If you vaccinate your dog in time, and you keep it safe while they are still a puppy, then you will win the battle against parvo victoriously.
FAQ
Can Dogs Get Parvo at the Vet?
Sadly, yes. Dogs can get parvo at the vet because there might be ill dogs with the infection there. Vets must ensure that dogs with parvo are completely separated from healthy dogs at all times, but procedures can fail without further notice.
Can Puppies Get Parvo at the Beach?
Puppies can only get parvo at the beach if they come in contact with the feces of an ill dog with parvo or if they play around with a dog that hasn’t been vaccinated for the disease.